Gary Groob
All Lacrosse All The Time – A Division of Edge of Philly Sports Network
The Rochester Knighthawks (2-0) looked for their second straight win as they returned home to take on the Toronto Rock (1-1) in their 2022-23 Home Opener at Segar & Sciortino Field at The Blue Cross Arena.
Both teams were coming off wins. The Knighthawks used a second half surge to defeat the Georgia Swarm 16-11, while Toronto dominated from start to finish in a 19-8 rout of the Vancouver Warriors last week on home turf.
Toronto erupted for seven goals in the first quarter, including six straight to open the contest, and never looked back on its way outscoring the Warriors 13-4 in the first half.
A strong second half combined with a near record-setting performance from newcomer Connor Fields propelled the Knighthawks to a convincing 16-11 season-opening win over Georgia last week at the Gas South Arena.
The goalie match-up had Nick Rose in net for Toronto against Rylan Hartley in net for the Knighthawks.
Rochester dominated the first half with Thomas Hoggarth scoring four, and Connor Fields scoring three on the way to a 9-5 lead. Toronto mounted plenty of offense in the second half but spectacular save after spectacular save kept the Knighthawks in the lead, enroute to an 11-7 upset victory over the Rock.
To the game:
Connor Fields (4g,3a) opened the scoring for the Knighthawks with a fake then shot beating Rose to the glove side at 1:30. Challen Rogers (1g,1a) tied it up with a great second effort falling backwards at 3:54.
Rochester took the lead once again when Thomas Hoggarth (4g,0a) scored a Natural Hat-trick. The first was off a Holden Cattoni pass at 5:43, followed by scoring shortside off a Connor Fields pass at 6:43. Hoggarth’s third was off a Curtis Knight feed at 8:55. Connor Fields scored his second of the night diving across the crease off a Turner Evans feed at 10:05.
The Rock got on the board again with an outside shot from Zach Manns (1g,0a) off a Challen Rogers pass at 12:45. Stephen Keogh (3g,0a) scored on the power play firing a laser from the top of the crease off a Dan Craig pass at 14:07.
After one quarter, Rochester 5 Toronto 3.
Second Quarter:
Connor Fields opened the second quarter scoring with his third of the game, firing from well beyond the arc off a Ryan Smith pass at 2:41. Hoggarth then scored his fourth of the night off a Connor Fields pass at 5:16. Ryan Smith (1g,2a) increased the Knighthawks lead firing a point blank shot on the power play at 7:47.
Corey Small (1g,2a) scored for Toronto in transition, converting an Adam Jay pass at 11:18, but Jordan Stouros (1g,0a) roared back for Rochester going coast to coast at 12:32. With the extra attacker on, Tom Schreiber (1g,1a) fired a laser off a Dan Craig pass with just 1.6 seconds to go to narrow the lead to four goals.
At the half, Rochester 9 Toronto 5.
Third Quarter:
The Knighthawks thought they got on the board when Holden Cattoni scored on a quick stick, but on a coaches challenge it was deemed his foot was in the crease to nullify the score. Rochester did get on the board when Connor Fields scored his fourth of the night off a Holden Cattoni feed at 2:36.
Stephen Keogh answered back with the next two goals. Keogh’s second of the night used Tyler Biles as a screen at 6:05, followed by his hat-trick goal which was a howitzer of a shot just 0:26 seconds later.
The Rock had chances in the quarter, but Knighthawks goalie Rylan Hartley was spectacular. Hartley stopped three seperate break away opportunities consecutively to keep the lead at three goals.
After three quarters, Rochester 10 Toronto 7.
Fourth Quarter:
There wasn’t any scoring in their quarter until Mitch Ogilvie (1g,0a) scored into an empty net with just 0:37 seconds left in the game.
Toronto had many opportunities, but time and time again Rylan Hartley was up to the challenge. Hartley made many jaw dropping saves throughout the quarter.
Final score, Rochester 11 Toronto 7.
Game Stats:
- Toronto outshot the Knighthawks 56-43
- TD Ierlan dominated faceoffs for the Rock 21-4.
- Loose balls were dominated by Toronto 92-64
- Toronto went 1 for 4 on the power play, while Rochester went 1 for 3.
Top Scorers:
Toronto Rock:
- Stephen Keogh 3g, 0a
- Corey Small 1g, 2a
- Challen Rogers 1g, 1a
- Tom Schreiber 1g, 1a
Rochester Knighthawks:
- Connor Fields 4g, 3a
- Thomas Hoggarth 4g, 0a
- Ryan Smith 1g, 2a
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Gary Groob has been involved with Lacrosse for the majority of his life, whether playing, coaching, or covering the sport for the media.
An avid fan, with a real drive about helping to “grow the game”, Gary became part of podcasts about the game in 2010. Through the podcasts, Mr. Groob was given an opportunity to write about lacrosse, and the rest as they say, is history.
Through many miles (flying and driving) Gary has made inroads with the National Lacrosse League, Major Series Lacrosse League, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, as well as the Arena Lacrosse League, covering the leagues, their teams, and players, working for, and in concert with all of them.
In the year 2020, Mr. Groob was made the media person for the Arena Lacrosse League, voted onto the board of directors of the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club, as well as being made administrator of the Lacrosse page “Global Lacrosse” with a membership of 9000 members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022.
Mr. Groob co-hosts a weekly Lacrosse show on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, as well as writes a weekly lacrosse column for La Portada Canada News (both in print, and online).
Gary also hosts a Lacrosse talk show and podcast for The Edge of Philly Sports Network, seen live Sunday nights at 9pm (ET), and archived on the Edge of Philly YouTube page, as well as Spotify.
Mr. Groob’s other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.
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